Is the “No-Damage” Design Economically Sustainable in High Seismicity Zones? A Preliminary Response for Moment-Resisting RC Framed Structures

This study investigates the feasibility of a stiffness-based seismic design aimed at minimizing damage and downtime after earthquakes. Three conceptual RC buildings were analyzed: one designed according to conventional code-compliant practices and two using the proposed approach. Monotonic and cyclic nonlinear static analyses evaluated structural performance, while an economic assessment considered construction costs and expected losses due to seismic events. Results show that stiffness-based designs significantly reduce residual displacements and Expected Annual Loss compared to traditional designs, despite higher initial construction costs. The design adhering to capacity rules demonstrated superior performance, making it more cost-effective when total expenditures are considered.